New Release Tuesday: New Books Published November 9, 2021

A young boy on a crowded bus discovers that, after some wiggles and giggles, there’s room for everyone in this lighthearted rhyming picture book set in Zanzibar. The dala dala rumbles and roars as Musa and Dada drive off to the shore—but the bus stops for multiple detours: “Do you need a ride? It’s hotter than peppers out there in the sun! Come in, there’s room for everyone!” One stop becomes two stops which soon becomes ten, and Musa wonders when it will end: “How can any more people get in? We’re already smushed like sardines in a tin!” But there's always room for one more, if you make the room, which is the heartwarming take-away from this bouncy, joyous tale in rhyme.

Calvin has always been a boy, even if the world sees him as a girl. He knows who he is in his heart and in his mind but he hasn't yet told his family. Finally, he can wait no longer: "I'm not a girl," he tells his family. "I'm a boy--a boy in my heart and in my brain." Quick to support him, his loving family takes Calvin shopping for the swim trunks he's always wanted and back-to-school clothes and a new haircut that helps him look and feel like the boy he's always known himself to be. As the first day of school approaches, he's nervous and the "what-ifs" gather up inside him. But as his friends and teachers rally around him and he tells them his name, all his "what-ifs" begin to melt away. Inspired by the authors' own transgender child and accompanied by warm and triumphant illustrations, this authentic and personal text promotes kindness and empathy, offering a poignant and inclusive back-to-school message: all should feel safe, respected, and welcomed.

Jada is excited to do a school project about her hero Dr. Mae Jemison, a former NASA astronaut and the first Black woman to travel to outer space. She even gets to pretend to be her for the presentation in front of her teacher, parents, and friends! But when Jada's research reminds her how accomplished her hero truly is, she suddenly feels like she's made a mistake. How can she portray someone who seems to have everything together when she feels like she's falling apart?

Millie and the Ballet Bunnies are going to see a live performance of Millie's favorite ballet. When Millie loses her ballet slipper at the theater it's up to the bunnies to find it before the curtain rises! But where could the missing slipper be? And who is the mysterious dancer that wants to help them....?

Years ago, American laws were unfair to Black people. Black people were not allowed to shop in the same stores as white people, eat at the same restaurants, or even go to the same schools. Many brave men and women, like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks, dedicated their lives to ending these unfair laws through protests, sit-ins, and other peaceful demonstrations. This engaging story explores the ways Black Americans were discriminated against, the protestors’ many victories, and how the fight for equality continues today.

When Yoko was little, she had everything she could dream of in Japan, except time with her busy parents. She used to write wishes and tie them to the branches of the trees in the local temple to be less alone. When war broke out, Yoko was often hungry and had to use her imagination to transport her. After the war, she made her way to New York to meet free spirits and study art. She worked as artist, and hosted gatherings with her trailblazing friends, and then one day, John Lennon came to see her work. And together, they imagined a better world. This inspiring book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the climate artist's life.

When a young Japanese girl moves into her new house, she is happy to see a girl her age playing in the snow just outside her window. The only problem is the Japanese girl doesn't speak English and the American girl doesn't speak Japanese. An important book to show children that speaking the same language isn't a prerequisite to making a new friend.

Sisters are spectacular! They can be your biggest cheerleaders, your most trusted confidants, and your much-needed fashion advisors (as long as they’re not stealing your clothes!). But sisterhood can also be complex: full of rivalry, jealousy, and not-so-friendly competition. From pop culture sensations like the Kardashians/Jenners to civil rights activists Coretta Scott King and Edythe Scott Bagley to tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams, these sisters—and so many others throughout history—have not only impacted art, culture, and society, but also illustrate the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood.

Ammi weaves the most beautiful saris but never gets to wear any of them. Her two little daughters decide to do something about it―break their piggy bank! But when there isn’t enough money to buy Ammi a sari, the two girls must work together to find a solution. Will they be able to buy Ammi the gift she so deserves? With a text full of heart, and bright, cheerful artwork, this story brings readers into the home of a weaver’s family in Kaithoon, India, where the creation of saris is an art form. The book includes a glossary of Indian terms and a note about the saris made in this region.

Imagination and determination fuel a young black belt as she leads her friends on a mission to protect their dojang. This picture book celebrates teamwork, imagination, and perseverance. A simple text combined with vivid artwork make this picture book an irresistible read-aloud.

You can be an A--an architect, a B--a biochemist, a C--a computer software developer, and so much more! It's all about doing what you love and putting your heart into everything that you do. In this alphabet book of careers, the options run from A to Z! And six-year-old social media sensation Sam White and his dad, Bobby, want every kid out there to know that they can reach for the stars and make their dreams come true, whatever they want to become. Just don't be a Z--a zombie, and let the world pass you by.

Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley was born in 1818, enslaved to a Virginian plantation owner. As a teenager, Lizzy was sent to work as the only slave on a small plantation, where the work was endless, and the masters treated her with unspeakable cruelty. A new master, learning Lizzy could sew, sent her to work for a tailor, who paid the master, not Lizzy, for Lizzy's work. The beautiful gowns that Lizzy created were displayed in the tailor's window and soon attracted the attention of the wealthiest women in Virginia. Among them was Mrs. Jefferson Davis who also introduced Lizzy to Mary Todd Lincoln. Though Lizzy first had to borrow money from her wealthy patrons to buy her freedom, once she was free, she was able to earn money of her own and pay them all back.

Melody, the huge-hearted heroine of Out of My Mind, is a year older, and a year braver. And now with her Medi-talker, she feels nothing’s out of her reach, not even summer camp. There must be camps for differently abled kids like her, and she’s going to sleuth one out. A place where she can trek through a forest, fly on a zip line, and even ride on a horse! A place where she really can finally make a real friend, make her own decisions, and even do things on her own—the dream!

This memoir is the product of a profound journey of self-knowledge, a reckoning with all that your will can get you and all that it can leave behind. Written with the help of Mark Manson, author of the multi-million-copy bestseller The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Will is the story of how one person mastered his own emotions, written in a way that can help everyone else do the same.

Susie Moore knows that all too often stress is self-created and bogs us down, and she knows that we can just as easily create peace and power. Susie doesn’t deny the reality of suffering but instead shows how to pivot toward a life-changing way of processing pain, grief, loss, and anxiety. Her poignant stories and wise and witty words deliver nuggets of real-life wisdom to help you defuse reactive triggers and recast failures into successes with simple-yet-powerful changes.